brad
speech
Posted 2:28 PM on 07/17/08 -
Reply to this postSteve a man once told me the only reason I was a sales rep is because I hated college. Did it make me un-educated no, Just lazy haha. I myself when I get stumped on a sales call I tend to make fun of myself. I will say something like "darn alzheimers" it gets a laugh break the ice and the nerves go away. Try starting your sales call about the weather or your kid. P.S never politics. When you get up in the morning just say to yourself "no doulbt demons today" that should help to.
Holly
Practice makes perfect
Posted 5:07 PM on 07/18/08 -
Reply to this postHey Steve! I'm a communications major, and that was one thing we had to "practice" during speeches ... avoiding the "um's, ahs, ugh," and phrases like, "things of that nature, excellent," etc. - I recommend being cognizent of it before you enter the door. Slow down in your presentation, too. Often times we try to talk too fast, and it throws us off. Practice in your every day conversations with friends and family, and by being more aware, and you'll start to recognize others who do it. You'll get better in time. Cheers!
WV_Keith
Speech Stumbles - Reply
Posted 10:01 AM on 07/22/08 -
Reply to this postI have had the same problem Steve. I would recommend you check out your local toastmasters group. I joined Toastmasters to gain better speaking skills and improved public speaking confidence and can say it was worth the investment of my time and the nominal club dues they charge. Give it a try.
rich
speech stumbles
Posted 8:13 PM on 07/22/08 -
Reply to this post Toastmasters is the right fit for you.The very first night, every night since they talk about the ums ah and like, you know, etc. Seems to be on their main goals to help you get rid of the stupid filler words. They make you comfortable speaking in front of people. They give you gifts instead of correcting your mistakes. You will learn how to organize your thoughts. Become a better word master. Help you make a great presentation that is prepared.
Sarah Taylor
The Marching Band
Posted 8:13 AM on 07/15/08 -
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I was reading Gitomer's weekly e-zine this morning and chuckled to myself while reading the "Your Success Story" column of the lady that went through a huge ordeal over 50 cents. I have to say that when I'm the customer and am being helped by an employee of a business I am now acutely aware of the transaction - thanks to the "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless" book. I can acquaint it to the time when you find out that your favorite restaurant dish is loaded with 900 grams of fat... the experience isn't as joyous anymore because all you can think of and notice is how bad it is for you. My husband cracks up because he knows I am now very critical of customer service and how I should be treated as the customer. I don't think I'll be able to go back to being the un-caring customer that just wants to pay for their stuff - I now have this expectation that the cashier should sing praises for my existence and call out a marching band as pull out my coupon. ...Maybe I'm just weird.
Craig
Video Testimonals
Posted 8:05 AM on 07/09/08 -
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What is the best way to go about getting video testimonials?
Brian Brzoznowski
followup, persistence, and referrals
Posted 10:53 AM on 07/08/08 -
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It has been helpful to me in the sales of new homes to look at the relationship with a prospect after the first meeting as "follow THROUGH". Follow UP means that if you do it once it is over and done or it simply is accomplished and stopped. I like to think that follow Through means I will follow through and build a relationship until I sell and build a new home for all of their friends, family and to their kids, their kids. Follow through never ends. I endeavour to always follow through. I visualize selling through generations of my prospects until I die. Then Hopefully my company will continue to grow our business for generations.
David Kidder
When bad turns to worse..and still go referrals
Posted 9:39 PM on 07/07/08 -
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In spite of all of our best effort, the entertainment center just wouldnt let itself be delivered. First we sent it the wrong color, then we sent it perfect, but the trucker dropped it on the ground. Wrong color again, the next one just got lost along with the entire truck...yes it was stolen. Further irony, two months later the trailer was located, and the unit was intact, but the tires on the trailer were gone. Apparently the thieves couldnt sale our furniture either, even when it was free. Then we built the perfect unit, I even walked it through the plant myself to ensure the job...but then I left before I witnessed it being loaded on the truck, except it wasnt. It was still there the next morning. Then the Local Crime Watch, television program called me and wanted to know why we were purposely destroying the reputation of this furniture dealer 2000 miles away. Then the attorneys started calling me at home. This is over a $250.00 Entertainment center. Finally the day came when we had another truck heading that way. I asked the trucker to please call me every twenty miles to let me know how he was doing. The day the driver was to arrive at the dealer, I got a call from the stores manager. In his most professional voice he started by saying, "This is your worse nightmare." Without so much as a pause I replied, "No my worse nightmare is waking up without my penis." For the first time in four months I heard him laugh, and he admitted that"true,there were a few things worse than missing furniture." I then asked him to step outside and look down the street at his competitors.Dutifully he put the reiver down and stepped outside. When he came back in I asked him what he saw? "Dave, he replied, there is a guy pushing a dolly down the street with a large box on it." I said call your customer and tell him that I had this guy "walk" his entertainment unit all the way from California to Kansas. I actually got a thank card from the client, and the TV station.
just starting
presentations
Posted 10:01 AM on 07/07/08 -
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I am new to sales and need to do product presentations. The presentations are always on power point and sometimes the sales person will bring a few products to pass around. There will be any where from 15-45 people in these presentations. I need advice on giving a good presentation and how not to be nervous. I have also read that some people don't hand out literature until after the presentation. I am not sure which is better to give the literature before or after my presentation.
David Kidder
Powerpoints and handouts.
Posted 9:45 PM on 07/07/08 -
Reply to this postFirst of all lose the PowerPoints..secondly, never never never ever hand out printed material prior to the presentation. Ask that the audience be ready to take notes. Then hand out materials to support your presentation. If you want to hand out the Powerpoint on DVD's at that point, great, it will be a great refresher for them. By the way I sell Microsoft products including Powerpoint...but oddly enough I never use Powerpoint to sale Powerpoint...hmmmm
Alice
presentations
Posted 2:27 PM on 07/08/08 -
Reply to this postWhen I give presentations I like to give some kind of hand out so the audience can follow along. Maybe an outline or some literature. Break up a presentation into several parts. Start off by explaining what the topics are you are going to talk about. This will help ease your nervousness as you will have a plan of action. Then go down your list and talk about what you know. You do have to know what you are talking about but as long as your power point is on track, you will be, too. Make sure you make eye contact. Keep your audience interested by telling them some stories. Try to throw some humor in, too. That usually makes you more real and help the audience relate to you.
Lusine Hakhverdyan
Phone skills and closing skills
Posted 9:10 PM on 07/02/08 -
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am new in the Life Insurance business and would like to know how to set new hobbits for daily activities. Sometimes I don't have anything to do and don't know what can I do to fill my day so it can be productive. I am not a social person but want to become one... I am afraid from the phone but want to put myself in the position where I have to do it everyday.... I need to have at list 3 appointments a day but don't know how to get them... I want to sharpen my closing skills and fight back when there is an objection to buy... Don't know how to deal with people's mind and don't know how to show people the value of what I offer
Jeff
Coming Out of Your Shell
Posted 10:11 AM on 07/03/08 -
Reply to this postBuy and Read Jeffrey Gitomer's Sales Bible and join a local group called Toastmasters. Toastmasters will help you get more comfortable talking to people and groups and the Sales Bible will tell you almost everything you need to know from the sales end of things.
Bilbo Baggins
The Best Solution
Posted 12:22 AM on 12/19/08 -
Reply to this postSetting new hobbits could be as easy as a trip to the shire, Middle Earth, where more than a few hobbits may be up for new daily activities. Just stay clear of the goblins and you'll do just fine ;)
